Medical negligence plagues NHS maternity wards
Everyday ten new mothers lodge a complaint about the appalling treatment they receive in NHS maternity wards, it has been revealed.
The information and related horror stories were uncovered by a string of Freedom of Information requests and compensation claims.
The catalogue of complaints on overstretched and under funded wards range from rude midwives and doctors to botched deliveries.
Almost half of the medical negligence complaints related to bullying, unsympathetic, rude and apathetic staff.
Some even complained about babies being born in toilets and on reception floors.
These complaints about the professional negligence paint a bleak picture of the hospital service, especially at a time when they are failing women and babies when they are at their most vulnerable.
However, hospital spokesmen say the vast majority of new mothers are happy with the service they receive.
This did not stop MPs and campaigners in claiming that the shocking figures are symptomatic of a target-driven health service dangerously short of midwives.
Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said the culture of red tape and targets was putting midwives under unbearable strain.
A Department of Health spokesman said: 'The NHS delivers hundreds of thousands of babies safely every year and England is one of the safest places in the world to have a baby.'
Updated on 09/03/2010